Integrated coherent receiver for distributed fiber sensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A distributed fiber sensing system may use an integrated coherent receiver. The integrated coherent receiver may include a planar lightwave circuit including various optical components.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 63/016,926, filed on Apr. 28, 2020,the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to distributed fiber sensing,and more particularly to an integrated optical receiver for adistributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Optical distributed fiber sensing (DFS) systems have been used forseveral decades for the purpose of locating fiber faults or measuringtemperature, strain, or vibration. DFS systems are distinguished fromthose using discrete sensors in that the fiber itself forms an array ofsensors. The system relies on optical scattering within the fiber, whichcan be due to glass inhomogeneities (Rayleigh), acoustic waves(Brillouin) or optical phonons (Raman). In a typical system, lightpulses are launched from one end of the fiber and reflected backscatteris received at the launch end. Time-of-flight measurements are used todetermine where in the fiber a particular scattering event occurred, andanalysis of the received signal is used to evaluate the measurand.

Detection of Rayleigh backscatter is commonly used for distributedvibration sensing (DVS), often known as distributed acoustic sensing(DAS). Any change in strain at a point along the optical fiber willcause a change in the optical path length and hence a change in thephase of the backscattered light.

A schematic diagram of a typical phase-sensitive DAS system with aheterodyne coherent receiver is shown in FIG. 1 . Light from acontinuous wave (CW) laser 111, serving as a source laser and typicallyoperating in the telecommunications band near 1550 nm, is split into twopaths, for example by a splitter 113. A first path passes through anoptical isolator 117, and is formed into optical pulses, typically 10'sto 100's of ns long, by an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 119. The AOMalso shifts the optical frequency of the light, typically by 80 to 300MHz. The pulses are amplified by an Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA)121 and launched into a fiber-under-test 125 via an optical circulator123. The backscattered light from the fiber under test is directed bythe circulator to a signal input of a coherent receiver. A second path115 from the CW laser forms the local oscillator (LO) input to thecoherent receiver. Light in the second path is passed through an opticalisolator 151 and a variable optical attenuator 153. The polarization ofthe backscattered optical signal may well be different from that of thetransmitted light, since the fiber-under-test may be several 10's of kmin length, so polarization diversity is generally required in thereceiver. The signal and LO light are split into paths for the twopolarizations by polarization beam splitters 129 and 155, respectively,and mixed in 3 dB optical couplers 131 a,b. The outputs of the couplersare passed through variable optical attenuators 133 a-d, and are takento balanced photodetectors 135 a,b. Electrical outputs of thephotodetectors are amplified by transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) 137a,b, converted to digital signals by analog-to-digital converters (ADCs)139 a,b and analysed by digital signal processors (DSP) 141. The opticalfrequencies of the signal and LO differ by the AOM frequency. Thevibration frequencies of interest are in the range 0 to tens of kHz, sothe full phase information in the signal can be measured electrically.

A DAS system is typically built into a 19-inch rack instrument, usingpackaged bulk optical components with connectorized optical fibers forinputs and outputs. Such systems have been deployed to monitor, forexample, seismic events and intrusions or encroachment to oil pipelinesand borders, applications that call for small numbers of units and thatcan tolerate high unit cost.

Several manufacturers of optical communication transceivers supplyintegrated coherent receivers (ICRs). A schematic diagram of an agreedupon general implementation is shown in FIG. 2 . The receiver of FIG. 2is intradyne or homodyne, with the local oscillator at nominally thesame wavelength as the signal. Dual polarizations are used deliberately,with separate data transmitted on the two polarizations. In order toextract the full phase information for an intradyne receiver, 90-degreehybrid mixers 233, 235 are used on each polarization, with fourphotodiodes 237 required per channel, and the receiver requiring fourADCs 241.

These integrated receivers are available in a variety of platforms, fromfully-integrated on CMOS-compatible Silicon to hybrid assemblies onSilica.

Some of the characteristics of these optical communication receivers arenot ideal. DFS systems, especially DAS, work with very small signalsthat exhibit a wide dynamic range and cover a relatively narrowfrequency band at very low frequency compared to optical communicationsystems. The following design choices may therefore be different:

-   -   i) Optical loss is a major concern for DAS, and fully-integrated        Silicon-based ICR's are generally not good enough;    -   ii) The TIA's should be optimized for low noise at sub-GHz        frequency, rather than broadband operation;    -   iii) Because of the wide dynamic range of the received DAS        signal, the ADC's preferably have high resolution and low noise.        These components are expensive, so it is a clear disadvantage to        require four ADC's and associated signal processing in the        intradyne receiver.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments provide an integrated heterodyne coherent opticalreceiver for DAS systems, and/or other sensing systems in someembodiments. One potential advantage over intradyne telecom integratedreceivers is that two expensive ADC's are used rather than four, withassociated reduction in signal processing. Some embodiments make use ofthermo-optic tuning of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer as the variableoptical attenuator (VOA) in the silicon platform, for example in orderto reduce noise compared to a device that relies on free-carrierabsorption via current injection. In some embodiments the Mach-Zehnderinterferometer includes a designed imbalance, so that only one thermalphase shifter is used or required, and both the number of electricalconnections and the maximum power consumption can be reduced. This alsoapplies for other forms of phase shifters in various embodiments. Insome embodiments the polarization splitting of a signal from afiber-under-test is performed by an external optical component, withseparate optical signal inputs on the PLC for the two different signals.In some embodiments optical signals from the external polarizationsplitter and the local oscillator coupled to waveguides on the PLC arein the same polarization state.

Some embodiments provide a coherent receiver for a distributed fibersensing system, in which a continuous wave laser generates light forpropagation down a fiber, with backscattered light provided by acirculator to the coherent receiver, the coherent receiver comprising: afirst polarization beam splitter for splitting a backscattered opticalsignal from a fiber-under-test into a first polarization input signaland a second polarization input signal; a first variable opticalattenuator for controlling amplitude of a local oscillator (LO) signal,the first variable optical attenuator being on a planar lightwavecircuit (PLC); a second polarization beam splitter for splitting thecontrolled amplitude local oscillator signal into a first polarizationLO signal and a second polarization LO signal, the second polarizationbeam splitter being on the PLC; a first mixer for mixing the firstpolarization input signal and the first polarization LO signal, thefirst mixer being on the PLC; a second mixer for mixing the secondpolarization input signal and the second polarization LO signal, thesecond mixer being on the PLC; a first pair of variable opticalattenuators (VOAs) for equalizing signals from the first mixer, thefirst pair of VOAs being on the PLC; a second pair of VOAs forequalizing signals from the second mixer, the second pair of VOAs beingon the PLC; a first pair of balanced photodiodes for converting lightfrom the first pair of VOAs to a first electrical signal; and a secondpair of balanced photodiodes for converting light from the second pairof VOAs to a second electrical signal.

In some embodiments the first pair of balanced photodiodes and thesecond pair of balanced photodiodes are mounted to the PLC.

In some embodiments the first polarization beam splitter is on the PLC.

In some embodiments the first polarization beam splitter is external tothe PLC.

In some embodiments each VOA of the first pair of VOAs and the secondpair of VOAs comprise a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with at least onephase shifter. In some such embodiments the phase shifter comprises athermal phase shifter. In some such embodiments each arm of eachMach-Zehnder interferometer includes a phase shifter. In some suchembodiments only one arm of each Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes aphase shifter. In some such embodiments each Mach-Zehnder interferometerincludes a first arm and a second arm, and the first arm and the secondarm are of unequal lengths. In some such embodiments the first mixer andthe second mixer are part of the Mach-Zehnder interferometers.

In some embodiments the first mixer and the second mixer comprise 3 dBcouplers.

Some embodiments provide method of performing distributed fiber sensing,comprising: generating light from a continuous wave laser; formingoptical pulses using the light from the continuous wave laser; providingthe optical pulses to a fiber-under-test; receiving back scattered lightfrom the fiber-under-test; providing the back scattered light as asignal input to a coherent receiver; and providing the light from thecontinuous wave laser as a local oscillator input to the coherentreceiver; the coherent receiver including a planar lightwave circuit(PLC) having optical signal paths for separately operating on the signalinput and the local oscillator input in a first polarization state and asecond polarization state, the operations including mixing of the signalinput and the local oscillator signal in the first polarization state,mixing of the signal input and the local oscillator signal in the secondpolarization state, and equalizing the mixed signals.

In some embodiments the signal input to the coherent receiver is theback scattered light passed through a polarization beam splitterexternal to the PLC. In some such embodiments the signal input to thecoherent receiver and the local oscillator input to the coherentreceiver are in a same polarization state.

In some embodiments the operation of equalizing the mixed signals isperformed using Mach-Zehnder interferometers with a phase shifter. Insome such embodiments the phase shifter is a thermal phase shifter. Insome such embodiments the Mach-Zehnder interferometers are provided witharms of unequal length.

Some embodiments provide a coherent receiver for a distributed fibersensing system, in which a continuous wave laser generates light forpropagation down a fiber, with backscattered light provided by acirculator to the coherent receiver, the coherent receiver comprising: afirst polarization beam splitter for splitting a backscattered opticalsignal from a fiber-under-test into a first polarization input signaland a second polarization input signal; a beam splitter for splitting alocal oscillator (LO) signal into a first LO signal and a second LOsignal, the beam splitter being on a PLC; a first mixer for mixing thefirst polarization input signal and the first LO signal for generating afirst pair of mixed signals, the first mixer being on the PLC; a secondmixer for mixing the second polarization input signal and the second LOsignal for generating a second pair of mixed signals, the second mixerbeing on the PLC; a first pair of balanced photodiodes for convertinglight of the first pair of mixed signals to a first electrical signal;and a second pair of balanced photodiodes for converting light of thesecond pair of mixed to a second electrical signal.

In some embodiments the first pair of balanced photodiodes and thesecond pair of balanced photodiodes are mounted to the PLC.

In some embodiments the first polarization beam splitter is on the PLC.

In some embodiments the first polarization beam splitter is external tothe PLC.

Some embodiments further comprise: a first pair of variable opticalattenuators (VOAs) for equalizing the first pair of signals from thefirst mixer, the first pair of VOAs being on the PLC, the first pair ofVOAs being between the first mixer and the first pair of balancedphotodiodes in an optical path of the first pair of signals from thefirst mixer; and a second pair of VOAs for equalizing the second pair ofsignals from the second mixer, the second pair of VOAs being on the PLC,the second pair of VOAs being between the second mixer and the secondpair of balanced photodiodes in an optical path of the second pair ofsignals from the second mixer. In some embodiments each VOA of the firstpair of VOAs and the second pair of VOAs comprise a Mach-Zehnderinterferometer with at least one phase shifter. In some such embodimentsthe phase shifter comprises a thermal phase shifter. In some suchembodiments each arm of each Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes aphase shifter. In some such embodiments only one arm of eachMach-Zehnder interferometer includes a phase shifter. In some suchembodiments each Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes a first arm and asecond arm, and the first arm and the second arm are of unequal lengths.In some such embodiments the first mixer and the second mixer are partof the Mach-Zehnder interferometers.

In some embodiments the first mixer and the second mixer comprise 3 dBcouplers.

Some embodiments further comprise a first optical attenuator forattenuating amplitude of the local oscillator (LO) signal forpresentation to the splitter, the first optical attenuator being on theplanar lightwave circuit (PLC). In some such embodiments the firstoptical attenuator comprises a variable optical attenuator. In some suchembodiments the first optical attenuator comprises a fixed opticalattenuator.

In some embodiments the beam splitter is a polarization beam splitter.

These and other aspects of the invention are more fully comprehendedupon review of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical phase-sensitive DAS systemwith a heterodyne coherent receiver.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an agreed upon general implementationof an optical communication integrated coherent receiver.

FIG. 3 is a semi-schematic diagram of an example integrated coherentreceiver for a distributed fiber sensing system, in accordance withaspects of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a semi-schematic diagram of a variable optical attenuatorbased on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a thermo-optic phaseshifter.

FIG. 5 is a semi-schematic diagram of a further example integratedcoherent receiver with an alternative mixing stage, in accordance withaspects of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a semi-schematic of an integrated coherent receiver with anexternal polarization splitter, in accordance with aspects of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure discusses an integrated heterodyne optical receiver fora DFS system, a DAS system in some embodiments. In some embodiments theoptical receiver provides the same or similar functionality as theoptical receivers currently built into distributed fiber sensingsystems. A schematic diagram of an example optical receiver is shown inFIG. 3 . The general functionality is generally the same as wasdiscussed with respect to FIG. 1 .

In some embodiments the optical system is built on a planar lightwavecircuit (PLC) platform, which can be fabricated in several differentmaterials including Silicon, Silica, Silicon Nitride, and IndiumPhosphide. The circuit contains functional elements, such as 3 dBcouplers and polarization beam splitters, and optical waveguides asinterconnections.

An input source signal, formed of the backscattered light from afiber-under-test, is split into two polarization paths by a polarizationbeam splitter (PBS) 311 a and directed to two 3 dB couplers 315 a,b. Insome embodiments the PBS may be a PBS/rotator, with the PBS/rotator alsoperforming a rotation of at least one of the polarizations. The rotationof polarization may result in optical signals on the polarization pathshaving the same polarization, for example a TE polarization with anelectric field in a plane defined by the PLC.

A local oscillator (LO) signal, tapped from the source laser in someembodiments (for example as discussed with respect to FIG. 1 ), is firstcontrolled in amplitude by a variable optical attenuator (VOA) 313 andthen split into two polarization paths by a PBS 311 b, for mixing withthe polarized source signal by the 3 dB couplers. In some embodimentsthe VOA is optional, and may be omitted in some embodiments, for exampledepending on quality of the splitter 113 of FIG. 1 , from which the LOsignal may be pulled. In some embodiments, for example embodiments inwhich a PBS/rotator is used for the input source signal, the PBS 311 bmay instead be an optical splitter. In some embodiments the LO signal isbrought to the receiver using polarization maintaining fiber (PMF),which is coupled to the receiver in such a way that similar amounts oflight are coupled into two polarization states, for example in someembodiments with the PMF polarization axis at 45 degrees to the plane ofthe PLC. In some implementations an optical amplifier, either an EDFA ora semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), is inserted into the LO path inplace of or in addition to the VOA.

The outputs of the two 3 dB couplers, which are used as mixers, aretaken to photodiodes 319 a,b in a balanced configuration. VOAs 317 areused to equalize the signals on the two photodetectors on each path inorder to minimize the component of the output current that is due to theself-mixing of the local oscillator alone, compensating for slightdeviation from equal splitting in the 3 dB coupler. This procedure, theuse of the VOAs 317, is standard for balanced receivers. In someembodiments, for example if the component of output current due toself-mixing of the LO signal may be sufficiently insignificant, the VOAsmay be omitted. The electrical outputs of the photodiodes are taken toTIAs 321 a,b, which are separate chips in some embodiments.

In some platforms, for example Silicon and Indium Phosphide, all of thecomponents can be integrated monolithically. In others, for exampleSilica and Silicon nitride, some of the components, especially thephotodiodes, are generally made separately. These components aresometimes attached directly to the PLC, with appropriate opticalcoupling functionality built into the PLC, or they can be mounted closeto the PLC with light coupled through free space or lenses.

The VOA functionality can be achieved in different ways in variousembodiments.

In Silicon, the VOA is typically a waveguide that includes a p-n diodejunction in the optical path. Forward bias of the diode causes injectionof electrons and holes into the junction, which increases optical lossthrough free-carrier absorption. Reverse bias removes electrons andholes from the junction, which decreases the absorption loss.

On passive platforms such as Silicon Nitride or Silica, the VOA istypically fabricated as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, with athermo-optic phase shifter in at least one of the branches. Asemi-schematic diagram of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with athermo-optic phase shifter is shown in FIG. 4 . In FIG. 4 , a 3 dBcoupler 411 splits an input optical signal into a first arm and a secondarm, with a second 3 dB coupler 415 coupling ends of the arms andproviding two outputs. An integrated electrical heater 413 in one arm,the first arm in FIG. 4 , provides a variable phase shift through thethermo-optic effect. The variable phase shift changes the proportion oflight that couples to each output. If only one output is desired, theother output is terminated in a way to avoid back-reflections. Forconvenience, in some embodiments heaters can be provided on both arms ofthe interferometer. In this way the required thermal power can beminimized by selection of the arm that requires the smaller phase shiftin order to achieve the desired tuning.

If it is desirable to incorporate only one phase shifter, for example inembodiments with Mach-Zehnder interferometers, in some embodiments thesplitting ratios of one or both of the 3 dB couplers can be designed tobe something other than 50:50, or in some embodiments the interferometerarms can be made with slightly unequal optical lengths. In this way itcan be determined by design that one arm will require a small positivephase shift in order to achieve the desired range of optical loss,despite possible manufacturing variations, and then only that armrequires a phase shifter. In this way the number of electricalconnections to the PLC can be reduced at the same time as minimizing themaximum power requirement.

Even in Silicon it may be preferable to use thermal VOA devices ratherthan current-injection devices in DAS receivers. Current injection isinherently a noisy process, and the attenuation will be accompanied byundesirable phase noise that will degrade the received signal. Thereverse-bias mode of operation is less efficient than forward bias butgives the advantage of generating less noise.

For some embodiments, an alternative to electrical or thermal tuning isto use an electro-mechanical tuning element, for example apiezo-electric element, that can provide an optical phase shift througha combination of changes in the physical length and the refractive indexof the waveguide material.

An example alternative mixing stage of the receiver is shown in FIG. 5 .In FIG. 5 , the input signal and the LO signal are provided to 3 dBcouplers as discussed with respect to FIG. 3 . For example, the inputsignal, formed of the backscattered light from a fiber-under-test, maybe split into two polarization paths by a polarization beam splitter(PBS) 511 a and directed to two 3 dB couplers 515 a,b. Somewhatsimilarly, the LO may first be controlled in amplitude by a variableoptical attenuator (VOA) 513 and then split into two polarization pathsby a PBS 511 b, for mixing with the polarized source signal by the 3 dBcouplers. The 3 dB couplers, however, are part of Mach-Zehnderinterferometers comprised of the 3 dB couplers 515 a,b, variable phaseshifters 517, and second 3 dB couplers 519 a,b. The mixing and balancingfunctions are integrated into the Mach-Zehnder interferometers, with thevariable phase shifter 517 in at least one of the arms of eachMach-Zehnder interferometer. As before, this phase shifter can usethermal, electrical, or electro-mechanical elements to tune the phase.This design may have a number of advantages compared to the use ofseparate VOAs:

-   -   i. It is more compact, especially if Mach-Zehnder        interferometers are used as VOAs;    -   ii. This arrangement achieves balance of both self-mixing        products, LO*LO and signal*signal, simultaneously, which is        generally not possible using separate VOAs.    -   iii. The balance is achieved using a phase shift rather than        attenuation, so the optical loss through the output stage is        minimized.    -   iv. FIG. 5 illustrates the case in which a phase shifter is        incorporated in both arms of the interferometer. In some        embodiments it is sufficient to have a tunable phase shifter in        one arm only. In many cases, for example to achieve optimal        signal balance, a small phase shift would be performed in one        arm but a larger shift would be performed in the other, because        only one direction of phase shift is available. For example, a        heater can generally only cause a positive change of refractive        index and hence a positive phase shift. Since the phase shift is        generally used to correct a small imbalance caused in        manufacture it may be difficult to predict which arm would        require a positive phase shift, so it is convenient to        incorporate a phase shifter in both arms.    -   v. If it is desirable to incorporate only one phase shifter as        described in iv. above, the splitting ratios of one or both of        the 3 dB couplers can be designed to be something other than or        the interferometer arms can be made with slightly unequal        optical lengths. In this way it can be determined by design that        one arm will require a positive phase shift, despite possible        manufacturing variations, and then only that arm has a phase        shifter, although phase shifters may be provided for both arms        in some embodiments. In this way the number of electrical        connections to the PLC can be reduced at the same time as        minimizing the maximum power requirement.

In some embodiments it is preferable to perform the polarizationsplitting function using a separate optical component external to theintegrated receiver PLC. Sometimes better performance with regard topolarization splitting and optical loss can be obtained in this way. Anexample of such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 6 , which is asemi-schematic of an integrated coherent receiver with an externalpolarization splitter 609. The general receiver layout of FIG. 3 isemployed, with, however, an input signal split by the external PBS 609and input to a PLC. On the PLC, the split input signal is directedtowards two 3 dB couplers 315 a,b. An LO signal is input to the PLC, insome embodiments controlled in amplitude by an optional variable opticalattenuator (VOA) 313, and then split into two paths by a splitter 611,for mixing with the polarized source signal by the 3 dB couplers. As inthe embodiment of FIG. 3 , outputs of the two 3 dB couplers, which areused as mixers, are taken to photodiodes 319 a,b in a balancedconfiguration, with VOAs 317, optional in some embodiments, used toequalize the signals on the two photodetectors on each path. Theelectrical outputs of the photodiodes are taken to TIAs 321 a,b. In someembodiments the alternative layout discussed with respect to FIG. 5 mayinstead be employed, with the alternative mixing stage implemented.

The external polarization splitter separates the signal into the twopolarization states, which are coupled to separate input waveguides onthe PLC. The LO signal is coupled in on one single waveguide. It is mostconvenient to arrange that the two signal inputs and the LO are coupledonto the PLC in the same polarization state, using polarizationmaintaining optical fiber on each input. In this way the LO signal canbe split between the two channels without the need for polarizationrotation. Also, as the LO signal is carried by the polarizationmaintaining optical fiber, and does not experience signal degradation tothe extent experienced by signals from the fiber-under-test, use of aninternal beam splitter, as opposed to use of an external PBS or eveninternal PBS, is sufficient in many embodiments. In some embodiments,however, an external PBS or an internal (to the PLC) PBS may be used.

Although the invention has been discussed with respect to variousembodiments, it should be recognized that the invention comprises thenovel and non-obvious claims supported by this disclosure.

1. A coherent receiver for a distributed fiber sensing system, in whicha continuous wave laser generates light for propagation down a fiber,with backscattered light provided by a circulator to the coherentreceiver, the coherent receiver comprising: a first polarization beamsplitter for splitting a backscattered optical signal from afiber-under-test into a first polarization input signal and a secondpolarization input signal; a beam splitter for splitting a localoscillator (LO) signal into a first LO signal and a second LO signal,the beam splitter being on a planar lightwave circuit (PLC); a firstmixer for mixing the first polarization input signal and the first LOsignal for generating a first pair of mixed signals, the first mixerbeing on the PLC; a second mixer for mixing the second polarizationinput signal and the second LO signal for generating a second pair ofmixed signals, the second mixer being on the PLC; a first pair ofbalanced photodiodes for converting light of the first pair of mixedsignals to a first electrical signal; and a second pair of balancedphotodiodes for converting light of the second pair of mixed signals toa second electrical signal.
 2. The coherent receiver of claim 1, whereinthe first pair of balanced photodiodes and the second pair of balancedphotodiodes are mounted to the PLC.
 3. The coherent receiver of claim 1,wherein the first polarization beam splitter is on the PLC.
 4. Thecoherent receiver of claim 1, wherein the first polarization beamsplitter is external to the PLC.
 5. The coherent receiver of claim 1,further comprising: a first pair of variable optical attenuators (VOAs)for equalizing the first pair of mixed signals from the first mixer, thefirst pair of VOAs being on the PLC, the first pair of VOAs beingbetween the first mixer and the first pair of balanced photodiodes in anoptical path of the first pair of mixed signals from the first mixer;and a second pair of VOAs for equalizing the second pair of mixedsignals from the second mixer, the second pair of VOAs being on the PLC,the second pair of VOAs being between the second mixer and the secondpair of balanced photodiodes in an optical path of the second pair ofmixed signals from the second mixer.
 6. The coherent receiver of claim5, wherein each VOA of the first pair of VOAs and the second pair ofVOAs comprise a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with at least one phaseshifter.
 7. The coherent receiver of claim 6, wherein the phase shiftercomprises a thermal phase shifter.
 8. The coherent receiver of claim 7,wherein each arm of each Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes a phaseshifter.
 9. The coherent receiver of claim 7, wherein only one arm ofeach Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes a phase shifter.
 10. Thecoherent receiver of claim 9, wherein each Mach-Zehnder interferometerincludes a first arm and a second arm, and the first arm and the secondarm are of unequal lengths.
 11. The coherent receiver of claim 6,wherein the first mixer and the second mixer are part of theMach-Zehnder interferometers.
 12. The coherent receiver of claim 1,wherein the first mixer and the second mixer comprise 3 dB couplers. 13.The coherent receiver of claim 1, further comprising a first opticalattenuator for attenuating amplitude of the local oscillator (LO) signalfor presentation to the beam splitter, the first optical attenuatorbeing on the PLC.
 14. The coherent receiver of claim 13, wherein thefirst optical attenuator comprises a variable optical attenuator. 15.The coherent receiver of claim 13, wherein the first optical attenuatorcomprises a fixed optical attenuator.
 16. The coherent receiver of claim1, wherein the beam splitter is a polarization beam splitter.
 17. Amethod of performing distributed fiber sensing, comprising: generatinglight from a continuous wave laser; forming optical pulses using thelight from the continuous wave laser; providing the optical pulses to afiber-under-test; receiving back scattered light from thefiber-under-test; providing the back scattered light as a signal inputto a coherent receiver; and providing the light from the continuous wavelaser as a local oscillator input to the coherent receiver; the coherentreceiver including a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) having opticalsignal paths for separately operating on the signal input and the localoscillator input in a first polarization state and a second polarizationstate, the operations including mixing of the signal input and the localoscillator signal in the first polarization state, mixing of the signalinput and the local oscillator signal in the second polarization state,and equalizing the mixed signals.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereinthe signal input to the coherent receiver is the back scattered lightpassed through a polarization beam splitter external to the PLC.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the signal input to the coherent receiverand the local oscillator input to the coherent receiver are in a samepolarization state.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the operation ofequalizing the mixed signals is performed using Mach-Zehnderinterferometers with a phase shifter.